A key aspect of the evolution of modern warfare is the development of kill process constructs, such as kill chains, kill webs, or kill meshes. First articulated by U.S. Air Force General John Jumper, a kill process refers to the steps a military must take from locating a target to delivering an effect. Since first articulated, militaries around the globe have engaged in efforts to reduce the time it takes to move “from sensor to effector” (or more colloquially, “from sensor to shooter”) and to increase the flexibility and resilience of these processes.
Analysts from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), many of whom are affiliated with China’s military and national security apparatus, have closely observed the development of kill process constructs in the U.S. and assessed what this development might mean for China’s military. These analysts also incorporate these constructs into discussion of Chinese military issues, such as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) assessments of its operations, equipment, systems, and capabilities.
Key terms
Kill chain: A sequence of steps that connects specific nodes (e.g., sensors, networks, weapon systems) to achieve a desired kinetic or nonkinetic effect on a target.
Kill web: A collection of multiple sequences of steps and nodes that provides multiple pathways to accomplish a desired kinetic or nonkinetic effect on a target.
Kill mesh: A collection of many potential pathways and diverse systems and nodes that requires algorithms to determine sequences to achieve outcomes. Kill meshes are more resilient than chains and webs, but their sequences may be less predictable.
Kill process: A CNA term used to refer collectively to kill chains, webs, and meshes.
The threat from PRC kill processes to U.S. forces is described in the 2025 Department of War (DOW) China Military Power report and has been highlighted by leaders of the U.S. Space Force. Despite the threat PRC kill processes pose to U.S. forces, PRC-produced research on kill processes is underexamined by US-based scholars.
The purpose of this report is to examine research produced by analysts affiliated with China’s military and national security apparatus discussing kill processes. The report will describe key themes, identify the main research lines of effort (LOEs), and explore what this research suggests about how far along the PRC and PLA are in conceptualizing, developing, and deploying kill processes in military operations.
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